Brush head for a toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush head having a cleaning element support attached to a cleaning head support is described. The cleaning element support has a plurality of cleaning element support segments which are movable relative to each other. Each of the plurality of cleaning element support segments is outboard of a central portion of the cleaning element support. A top surface of cleaning element support defines a first plan and a top surface of at least one of the plurality of cleaning element support segments defines a second plane. The first plane and the second plane are not co-planar. A plurality of cleaning elements is attached to the central portion and each of the plurality of cleaning element support segments.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/501,851, filedOct. 25, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,774,885, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to a brush head for a toothbrush, which includesa handpiece with a drive mechanism for the brush head, with an inparticular disk- or plate-shaped bristle support which carries an arrayof bristles, is mounted for movement on a brush head support andincludes connecting elements for coupling to the drive mechanism in thehandpiece of the toothbrush, said bristle support being divided intoseveral bristle support segments movable relative to each other, andwith driving elements changing the position of the bristle supportsegments relative to each other in dependence upon the position of theentire bristle support.

In electric toothbrushes increased importance has been recently attachedto the cleaning of interproximal spaces and periodontal pockets.Attempts are made to work the bristles into the interproximal spaces toremove plaque buildup there. However, the length and the fixed securingof the bristles set a certain limit to these attempts. From EP 0 835 081B1 a brush section for an electric toothbrush is known, which includes abristle support which is rotary about an axis of rotation perpendicularto the brush longitudinal direction and is adapted to be driven in anoscillatory rotary movement. Arranged in several rings on the bristlesupport are bristle tufts, some of the bristle tufts being provided onthe outermost bristle tuft ring in diametrically opposed segments, saidtufts protruding beyond the remainder of the bristle tufts and being ofincreased stiffness. These tufts, referred to as power tips, areintended to penetrate in the interproximal spaces to perform aparticularly thorough cleaning function there. This prior knownarrangement is however capable of further improvement. Owing to theoscillation of the bristle support the power tips perform a wipingaction into and out of the interproximal spaces, without howeveroptimally reaching the respective interproximal space due to the motioncurve resulting in the process, because it is first necessary to wipeover the gums before the interproximal space can be entered.Furthermore, the penetration depth of the power tips in theinterproximal space amounts to no more than the amount of protrusionover the remainder of the bristles.

From U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,433 a brush head of an electric toothbrush isknown, which includes another bristle support with supplementarybristles in addition to the main bristle support driven in anoscillatory rotational pattern about an axis of rotation normal to thebrush longitudinal direction and carrying an approximately circulararray of bristles. This additional bristle support is constructed as acomponent separate from the main bristle support and sits directly on adrive shaft extending in the interior of the brush head support anddriving also the main bristle support. The additional bristles aredriven to oscillate in a rotary manner about the drive axis, that is,about the longitudinal axis of the brush, and are to sweep out theinterproximal spaces. Apart from the fact that this separate drive ofthe supplementary bristle array is relatively complex, theaforementioned problem is not eliminated, that is, the extendedadditional bristles are unable to penetrate between adjacent teethsufficiently deeply.

In this context, an improvement is achievable by enabling the power tipsto penetrate in the interproximal space in a pulsing motion. EP 1 093770 A2 proposes a brush head of the prior-art type in which theessentially disk-shaped bristle support, which is adapted to be drivenin rotary oscillatory manner, is divided into several bristle supportsegments that are movable relative to each other. The power tips arearranged on a rocker which is mounted for rocking motion about a rockeraxis extending in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation of thebristle support and forms opposite segments of the bristle support, sothat by rocking up and down corresponding pulsing or poking motions ofthe power tips can be achieved. In this arrangement the rocking motionsare produced by a crank mechanism mounted on the drive shaft provided inthe interior of the brush tube to effect the oscillatory rotationalmotion of the bristle support. Accordingly, the rocking motion iscoupled to the oscillatory rotational motion of the bristle support,that is, the rocker-like bristle support segments are moved independence upon the rotary position of the entire bristle support. Dueto the arrangement of the power tips on a rocker, however, only thosepower tips that are arranged on one side will enter the interproximalspace at a time, because the opposite power tips are withdrawn accordingto the principle of a seesaw. Moreover, the drive mechanism producingthe rocking motion is relatively complex in addition to necessitating aspecial type of bristle support drive, namely a drive shaft rotating oroscillating about its longitudinal axis.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, the driving elements causingrelative movement of the bristle support segments comprise a cam controlsurface as well as an engagement element cooperating therewith, whichare provided on the brush head support and at least one bristle supportsegment in order to move this at least one bristle support segmentcorrespondingly when the bristle support moves about its axis of motion.For achieving the desired motion of the bristle support segment, it isthus not necessary to provide an elaborate crank mechanism mounted onthe shaft. By providing a cam surface, the basic movement of the entirebristle support relative to the brush head support is utilized foradditionally driving individual bristle support segments, so that theseindividual bristle support segments execute an additional movement thatis superposed upon the basic movement of the bristle support. Crankpinswith weld-on tappets can be omitted.

It will be understood that the basic movement of the bristle support maybe embodied in different ways. Possible are, for example, translationalmovements. In particular however the bristle support is caused tooscillate rotationally about an axis of rotation extending essentiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the brush head. With thisconstruction, the cam control surface extends on an arc about the axisof rotation of the bristle support so that the at least one movablebristle support segment is driven in accordance with the rotary movementof the bristle support.

The cam control surface may be formed or arranged on the bristle supportsegment itself while the cooperating engagement element is formed fastwith the brush head support. In an advantageous further aspect of theinvention provision is however made for the cam control surface to beformed fast with the brush head support while the cooperating engagementelement is disposed on the bristle support segment to be moved. The camcontrol surface and the engagement element cooperating therewith may beformed directly by surfaces of the brush head support and, respectively,the respective bristle support segment. The cam control surface and/orthe cooperating engagement element may also be constructed as separateelements secured to the respective bristle support segment and,respectively, the brush head support. This enables them to beconstructed in particularly wear-resistant and/or replaceable manner.

In some embodiments, the bristle support possesses at least one rigidbristle support segment that executes only the rotary movement or basicmovement, as well as at least one movable bristle support segment thatexecutes the basic movement plus a poking movement. In a further aspectof the invention it is also possible for several bristle supportsegments, preferably one pair of bristle support segments arranged atdiametrically opposite sides on the bristle support, to be movablymounted and to be driven by the cam control in dependence upon therotary position of the bristle support. With this construction, thecorresponding cam control surface may include several sections, whereofa respective one of said sections is associated with one of the drivenbristle support segments.

The cam control may be configured in a variety of ways. In one preferredconfiguration of the invention the cam control is constructed as apositive control, such that the bristle support segments driven by itare positively controlled in both the one and the other direction. Thecorresponding cam control surface and the engagement element cooperatingtherewith are always in relative engagement and act in opposeddirections of movement. The engagement element cooperating with the camcontrol surface can not be lifted clear of the cam control surface,being constrained to follow its movement. Such a positive control may berealized, for example, by providing for the engagement element to run ina cam control groove, providing, so to speak, two parallel cam controlsurfaces between which the engagement element runs. A positive controlmay also be provided in that the engagement element associated with thecam control surface forms a curved engagement surface that is curved inthe same direction and with about the same curvature radius as the camcontrol surface, so that a concave surface sits with exact fit on aconvex surface. When the corresponding bristle support segment ismounted for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of curvature ofthe two engagement surfaces, a movement of the bristle support segmentin a direction transverse to its movable bearing axis results in apositively defined swivel position.

In an alternative further aspect of the invention the cam control mayalso be of the type that is not positively controlled. The respectivebristle support segment may be mounted in such fashion that the camcontrol surface and the engagement element cooperating therewith can belifted clear of each other, enabling disengagement of the cam control.In practice, however, this is prevented from occurring because thereaction forces acting on the bristles during brushing urge the bristlesupport segment downwards, hence pressing the cam control surface andthe engagement element into relative engagement. Accordingly, it is notnecessary for the cam drive to be designed to act in both directions,instead it is sufficient for it to effect movement of the bristlesupport segment into only one direction. As the case may be, provisionmay also be made for a biasing or spring device that counteracts alift-off movement of the engagement element from the cam controlsurface.

In another aspect of the invention the cam control is configured in suchmanner that the bristle support segments driven by the cam controlexecute poking movements essentially in the bristles' longitudinaldirection. In other words, the bristle support is rotated in itsentirety about an axis of rotation essentially parallel to the maindirection of the bristled area. In addition, a poking motion issuperposed upon one or several bristled segments.

In a further aspect of the invention the cam control is configured suchthat a maximum stroke, that is, the maximum poking movement of themovable bristle support segments occurs when the bristle support is inits neutral mid-position from which it is drivable in oscillatory mannerin opposite directions. Each time the bristle support passes throughzero the bristle support segments driven by the cam control experience amaximum upstroke. By contrast, with the displacement of the bristlesupport at its maximum, the movable bristle support segments assume aminimum stroke position or a retracted position.

Depending on the configuration of the bristled area and the arrangementof the power tips, with the displacement of the bristle support at itsmaximum provision may also be made for the movable bristle supportsegments to occupy a maximum stroke position while the movable bristlesupport segments assume their retracted, minimum stroke position whenthe bristle support passes through zero.

In the event of several bristle support segments being driven by the camcontrol, the bristle support segments are preferably raised or loweredin the same timed sequence, that is, raising takes place in concert, andso does lowering.

The movable bristle support segments driven by the cam control may bemounted on the immovable part of the bristle support or a bristlesupport base in a variety of ways. Provision may be made for the movablebristle support segments to be mounted for translational movement, beingin particular displaceable in the direction of the axis of rotation ofthe bristle support. This enables a poking movement to be accomplishedexactly parallel to the direction of rotation of the bristle support. Ina further aspect of the invention however provision is preferably madefor mounting the movable bristle support segments for swivel movement,in particular about a swivel axis extending in a direction transverse tothe axis of rotation of the bristle support. Owing to the arrangement ofthe swivel axis, it is possible to determine, in addition to the camcontrol surface design, the height and the track curve of the movementof the respective bristle support segment, which is produced by the camcontrol.

According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention the movablebristle support segments sit on a radially extending swivel axis in suchmanner that bristles sitting on the bristle support segment swivel in aplane tangential to the circumferential direction of the bristlesupport. By virtue of the cam control, the bristles sitting on themovable bristle support segment hence experience a wagging motion in thecircumferential direction. As this occurs, the bristle tufts spaced fromthe swivel axis poke in their longitudinal direction.

According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention the movablebristle support segments are each adapted to swivel about a transverseaxis that extends in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation ofthe bristle support and lies in the plane defined by the bristlesupport, such that bristles sitting on the respective movable bristlesupport segment perform a rocking motion in a plane radial to the axisof rotation of the bristle support. In cases where movable bristlesupport segments are arranged at diametrically opposite sides, thebristles disposed thereon thus perform a swivel movement towards eachother, with the bristles spaced from the swivel axis experiencing astroke motion. It will be understood, of course, that the bristlesupport segments may be caused to swivel about separate, preferablyparallel, axes. It is also possible for the bristle support segments tobe mounted on a common swivel axis.

Conveniently, the movable bristle support segments mount a particulartype of bristle. In particular the bristles arranged on the movablebristle support segments protrude beyond the bristles arranged on thefixed bristle support segment in the bristles' longitudinal direction.Alternatively or additionally, the bristles protruding in longitudinaldirection may be of greater stiffness than the remainder of thebristles. In particular the bristle tufts arranged on the movablebristle support segments form so-called power tips.

The movable bristle support segments lie preferably in a radially outerzone of the bristle support, forming in particular a segment of theradially outer periphery of the bristle support. Bristles arranged in aradially outer zone of the respective bristle support segment may belonger and/or stiffer than bristles arranged in a radially inner zone.The radially outer bristles may also fulfill special functions as, forexample, a wear indicating function.

Further objects, advantages, features and application possibilities ofthe present invention will become apparent from the subsequentdescription of preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a brush head of an electric toothbrushhaving a disk-shaped bristle support that is adapted to be driven in anoscillatory rotating manner and includes two movably mounted bristlesupport segments adapted to swivel about transverse axes;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the brush head of FIG. 1 as seen lookingfrom below at an angle, showing a cam control of the movably mountedbristle support segments;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a bristle support having movably mountedbristle support segment according to another embodiment of the inventionin which the movable bristle support segments are mounted for swivelmovement about a common transverse axis;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a brush head of another electrictoothbrush, in which the bristle support adapted to be driven in anoscillatory rotating manner includes two bristle support segmentsmounted for swivel movement about a radial axis, the view showing a camcontrol of the movably mounted bristle support segments;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the brush head of FIG. 4 showing thearrangement of the movable bristle support segments;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the brush head of the two precedingFigures, showing a brush tube and a cam control, formed in part by thebrush tube, of the movable mounted bristle support segment; and

FIG. 7 is a front view of the brush head of the preceding FIGS. 4 to 6,showing the movably mounted bristle support segments in theirnon-displaced, neutral position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The brush head 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 has an essentially disk-or plate-shaped bristle support 2 mounted on a brush head support 3. Thebrush head support 3 is constructed as a brush tube 4 providing abristle support mounting structure 5 in the region of the bristlesupport 2.

The bristle support 2 is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation6 extending essentially perpendicular to the plane defined by thebristle support 2 and also essentially perpendicular to the longitudinaldirection of the brush head 1, and is adapted to be driven in anoscillatory rotating manner. To accomplish this, provision is made inthe interior of the brush tube 4 for a driving element 7 that is adaptedto be coupled to a drive mechanism of a handpiece of a toothbrush, notshown in more detail, when the brush head 1 is attached to thetoothbrush handpiece, and is connected to the bristle support 2 bygearing not shown in greater detail.

The bristle support 2 is rotatable from the neutral basic position shownin FIG. 1 in either direction of rotation. The angle of oscillation maybe less than ±45°, for example, in particular about ±35°.

As FIG. 1 shows, the bristle support 2 comprises a rigid bristle supportsegment 8 and two bristle support segments 9 movable relative theretowhich, roughly speaking, are shaped in an approximately wedge-shapedconfiguration and combine with the rigid bristle support segment 8 toform an approximately circular disk.

The two movable bristle support segments 9 are arranged opposite to oneanother, lying approximately on the longitudinal axis of the brush head1 in the non-displaced position of the bristle support 2 shown inFIG. 1. The two bristle support segments 9 are each mounted for swivelmovement about a respective transverse axis 10 extending in the planedefined by the bristle support 2 as well as in a direction transverse tothe axis of rotation 6 and transverse to the longitudinal direction ofthe brush head 1. The two parallel transverse axes 10 are close to thecenter of the bristle support 2, being however spaced a small distancefrom the axis of rotation 6 in the embodiment shown.

In a non-displaced position the two movable bristle support segments 9lie essentially in the plane defined by the rigid bristle supportsegment 8. They can be lifted in upward direction, that is, toward theside carrying the array of bristles 11, swiveling about their respectivetransverse axes 10 so that the bristle tufts 12 arranged on therespective bristle support segment 9 execute a poking motion. It will beunderstood, of course, that both the bristle support segments 9 and therigid bristle support segment 8 rotate with the bristle support 2 aboutthe axis of rotation 6.

The two movable bristle support segments 9 are driven in dependence uponthe rotary position of the bristle support 2 relative to the brush headsupport 3. As FIG. 2 shows, provision is made for a cam control 13 forraising and lowering the movable bristle support segments 9 with acorresponding rotation of the bristle support 2 about the axis ofrotation 6. The cam control 13 comprises a cam control surface 14provided on the brush head support 3 in a section of the brush headsupport 3 lying underneath the bristle support 2. As FIGS. 1 and 2 show,the cam control surface 14 includes two sections lying each under one ofthe two movable bristle support segments 9. The section of the camcontrol surface 14 shown in FIG. 2 is formed in the bristle supportmounting structure 5 situated at the forward end of the brush headsupport 3. The second section of the cam control surface 14 is likewiseformed on the bristle support mounting structure 5, yet in its regionadjoining the brush tube 4.

The cam control surface 14 extends in an arc about the axis of rotation6. It lies in the area of the longitudinal plane of symmetry of thebrush tube. As FIG. 2 shows, the cam control surface 14 is in particularsymmetrical to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the brush head inwhich the axis of rotation 6 lies. It comprises a centrally locatedprotuberance and two depressions adjoining the protuberance to the rightand left (cf. FIG. 2).

Cooperating with the cam control surface 14 is an engagement element 15arranged on the movable bristle support segment 9, particularly on itsside close to the brush head support 3. As FIG. 2 shows, the engagementelement 15 may be a downwardly protruding engagement nose sliding alongthe cam control surface 14 and having a contour correspondingapproximately to the two depressions of the cam control surface 14.

When the bristle support 2 rotates about the axis of rotation 6, theengagement elements 15 on the two bristle support segments 9 slide alongtheir respective cam control surface 14 on the brush head support 3.This causes the radially outer peripheries of the bristle supportsegments 9 to be raised or lowered, that is, the respective bristlesupport segment 9 swivels about its swivel axis 10. The cam controlsurface 14 is formed such that the maximum stroke position of thebristle support segments 9 is reached when the bristle support 2 passesthrough zero, meaning that is passes the non-displaced position shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. When the bristle support 2 reaches its maximumdisplacement position of its oscillating rotation, the engagementelements 15 enter the depressions of the cam control surface 14, causingthe bristle support segments 9 to be in their lowered position in whichthey lie approximately in the plane of the rigid bristle support segment8.

Provision may be made for a biasing device, not shown in more detail,which urges the cam control 13 into its engaged position. For example, aspring device may urge the two bristle support segments 9 downwardsagainst the brush head support 3 so that the engagement elements 15 reston the cam control surface 14. It will be understood, however, that sucha biasing device may also be dispensed with. The bristle supportsegments 9 are urged against the cam control surface 14 by the reactionforces produced while brushing.

While the two bristle support segments 9 of FIGS. 1 and 2 are adapted toswivel about separate transverse axes 10, provision may also be made formounting the two movable bristle support segments 9 for swivel motionabout a common transverse axis 10 as shown in FIG. 3. Otherwise thebristle support shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the embodiment previouslydescribed. It shows that preferably bristles referred to as power tipssit on the movable bristle support segments 9. The radially outerbristle tufts 16 arrayed on an outer ring of bristle tufts protrude inthe bristles' longitudinal direction beyond the radially inner bristletufts as well as the bristle tufts arranged on the rigid bristle supportsegment 8, enabling them to better penetrate in interproximal spaces.Furthermore, the radially outer bristle tufts 16 may be of increasedstiffness. This too assists in penetrating between the teeth.

The brush head 1 shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 comprises likewise an essentiallydisk- or plate-shaped bristle support 2 mounted for rotation on anelongate brush head support 3. Similar to the previously describedembodiment, the brush head support 3 comprises a brush tube 4 and abristle support mounting structure 5 receiving the bristle support 2 ormounting it rotatably. The bristle support 2 is adapted to be driven inthe manner previously described, meaning in an oscillatory rotatingmanner about the axis of rotation 6 which is perpendicular to the planeof the bristle support and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thebrush head 1. For this purpose and as described in the foregoing, acorresponding driving element and, as the case may be, a gearing may bearranged in the interior of the brush head support 3.

The bristle support 2 is likewise comprised of a rigid bristle supportsegment 8 and two movably mounted bristle support segments 9 indiametrically opposite arrangement, which combine with the rigid bristlesupport segment 8 to form an essentially circular disk. As FIG. 5 shows,the movable bristle support segments 9 are arranged on the outerperiphery of the bristle support 2. The bristle support segments 9 havethe approximate contour of a circular ring segment forming part of theperipheral region of the bristle support 2. In the non-displacedposition of the bristle support 2 shown in FIG. 7, the movable bristlesupport segments 9 lie roughly on the longitudinal axis of the brushhead 1 which is essentially defined by the brush tube 4. From theneutral position of FIG. 7 the bristle support 2 can be oscillatedrotationally in opposite directions through an arc of up to ±45°,preferably ±35°, approximately.

Each of the bristle support segments 9 has recesses 17 for receivingsuitable bristle tufts. In the embodiment shown, each bristle supportsegment 9 accommodates two bristle tufts of longitudinal cross-section.In this embodiment in particular, the bristle tufts are likewiseconfigured as power tips protruding in the bristles' longitudinaldirection beyond the bristle tufts sitting on the fixed bristle supportsegment 8, and possess greater stiffness. They serve to penetrate in theinterproximal spaces.

In contrast to the previously described embodiment, the bristle supportsegments 9 are adapted to swivel relative to the rigid bristle supportsegment 8 about a radial axis 18. The radial axis 18 extends essentiallyin the plane of the bristle support 2 in a direction transverse to itsaxis of rotation 6 and essentially through the segments of the bristlesupport 2 in which the movable bristle support segments 9 are provided.In the non-displaced position of the bristle support 2, the radial axis18 extends in the longitudinal direction of the brush head 1. As FIGS. 4and 5 show, the bristle support segments 9 are tiltable about the radialaxis 18 in such a manner that the bristle tufts spaced from the radialaxis 18 execute a poking motion. In particular the bristle tuftsarranged on the bristle support segments 9 perform a wagging motion inthe circumferential direction roughly in a plane tangential to thebristle support 2. In the non-displaced position shown in FIG. 7, themovable bristle support segments 9 lie substantially in the planedefined by the rigid bristle support segment 9.

The movement of the bristle support segments 9 is positively-controlledin dependence upon the rotation of the bristle support 2 about the axisof rotation 6. As driving device provision is made for a cam control 19causing the bristle support segments 9 to swivel about the radial axis18 during rotation of the bristle support 2 about its axis of rotation6. As FIGS. 4 and 6 show, each of the bristle support segments 9 isassociated with a cam control surface 20 arranged essentially underneaththe bristle support segments 9 and formed fast with the brush headsupport. The cam control surface 20 associated with the bristle supportsegment 9 on the side close to the handpiece is formed by the surface ofthe brush tube 4. The cam control surface 20 associated with theopposite, frontal bristle support segment 9 is formed by a frontalprojection on the bristle support mounting structure 5 (cf. FIG. 4).Each of the two cam control surfaces 20 is curved in convex shape.

The bristle support segments 9 have on their underside close to thebrush tube 4 a respective engagement element 21 for engagement, inparticular sliding engagement, with the respective cam control surface20. In the embodiment shown, the engagement element is the underside ofthe bristle support segments 9 itself, which is curved in convex shapein such manner as to be in intimate engagement with the cam controlsurface (FIG. 7). Conveniently, the bristle support segment 9 extends inthe circumferential direction of the bristle support 2 over a greaterlength than the cam control surface 20 (FIG. 7). In the embodiment ofFIGS. 4 to 7, the cam control 19 is configured such that in the neutralposition of the bristle support 2, that is, when it is in a mid-positionof its oscillating rotation shown in FIG. 7, the bristle supportsegments 9 are non-displaced. By contrast, the maximum stroke motion,that is, the maximum amount of displacement of the bristle supportsegments 9 about the radial axis 18, takes place in the maximum rotatedposition of the bristle support 2. As this occurs, the two bristlesupport segments 9 are turned in opposing directions (FIG. 4).Considering however that the two bristle support segments 9 carrybristle tufts on either side of the radial axis 18, a bristle tuftstroke motion results on both bristle support segments 9 in the sametimed sequence, that is, the power tips on opposed sides of the bristlesupport 2 are raised at the same time to poke into the interproximalspaces.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A toothbrush head comprising: a cleaningelement support attached to cleaning head support, the cleaning elementsupport comprising a plurality of cleaning element support segments anda stationary central cleaning element support segment, the plurality ofcleaning element support segments being movable in a directiontransverse to a longitudinal direction of the cleaning head support andrelative to each other and the central cleaning element support segmentand being outboard of the stationary central cleaning element supportsegment wherein a top surface of each of the plurality of cleaningelement support segments is disposed at an angle with respect to a topsurface of the central cleaning element support segment; and a pluralityof cleaning elements attached to the central cleaning element supportsegment and each of the plurality of cleaning element support segments.2. The toothbrush head of claim 1, wherein the top surface of each ofthe plurality of cleaning element support segments is disposed at anacute angle with respect to an orthogonal reference from the centralcleaning element support segment.